Bernanke Warns Congress Not to Limit the Central Bank’s Independence

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke has written an opinion piece in Sunday’s Washington Post where he attacks congressional proposals to audit the Fed and strip it of most of its regulatory powers.

According to Bernanke, Capitol Hill attempts to audit the central bank and restrict its regulatory reach could be dangerous for the economy.

“These measures”, Bernanke writes, “are very much out of step with the global consensus on the appropriate role of central banks, and they would seriously impair the prospects for economic and financial stability in the United States”.

While Mr. Bernanke’s taking to penning occasional op-ed pieces is not unusual, Sunday’s rare newspaper column — which comes days ahead of his confirmation hearing (scheduled for Thursday/Dec.3) for a second four-year term as the Chairman of the central bank — clearly attacks a proposal in the Senate to strip the Federal Reserve of its bank regulatory powers and a House Financial Services Committee vote to audit monetary policy deliberations and actions.

Mr. Bernanke in more than one occasion has defended the Central Banks’ unprecedented actions of doubling of its balance sheet to over $2 trillion to prevent a financial collapse, and has also explained the Fed’s position and its exit strategy once it decides it is safe to take the economy off life support.

“The government’s actions to avoid financial collapse last fall — as distasteful and unfair as some undoubtedly — were unfortunately necessary to prevent a global economic catastrophe that could have rivaled the Great Depression in length and severity, with profound consequences for our economy and society,” Bernanke wrote.

Lawmakers however, seem unhappy with the fact the Fed has taken on too much authority. They are also angry with the agency over its emergency bailouts of major financial firms and its failure to prevent the contagion of mortgage delinquencies. That is way they want the Fed to restrict itself in the future to setting monetary policy.

Bernanke obviously strongly disagrees wit that approach, saying that, while reforms are needed, “the institution’s ability to foster financial stability and to promote economic recovery without inflation, ” should be preserved rather than degraded.

Allowing audits of the Fed’s monetary policy — as proposed by legislation — would increase the perceived influence of Congress on interest rate decisions, he said.

“Now more than ever, America needs a strong, nonpolitical and independent central bank with the tools to promote financial stability and to help steer our economy to recovery,” Bernanke wrote.

We think the Fed Chairman is right. While the Fed as an institution may not be perfect — more transparency always helps since it makes monetary policy under discretion credible and transparent — it has certainly proved itself in more than in one occasion to be technically competent over several decades, many of which were periods of financial crisis.

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2 Comments on Bernanke Warns Congress Not to Limit the Central Bank’s Independence

  1. of course you think bernake is right.. what crook wants to audit the fed…how can ac-counting for where American tax =payer dollars are, hurt anyone but crooks.. ..accountability hurts no one but crooks..what crook wants accountability. You got your Obama and with all the tricks.. he still failed to save your little crook-agenda.yet with the tanking of “The fabulous Dubai by Muslims who are tired of Israel picking on Nations..Most definitely Palestine.,and them selves with all these expanding wars in Muslim resource wealthy Nation..the Jewsih press can`t do enough to defame Muslims ..how can they when Muslims make up the global spending block on earth.,And you haven`t seen nothing yet.. and it is increasing.. The ones who perpertrate this game should seriously realize the west is going down.. and the same people who you seek to loot and plunder and kill today.. will be your future masters.. and then it will be their turn to dissect the wings off the fly.Happy Holidays…

  2. Support House Bill HR-1207 and Senate Bill S-602 as is with no changes. It must be a full and complete Audit of everything.

    The audit will be an awakening and education for all of “We the People”. The Federal Reserve System will not survive the exposure and they know it.

    The “New World Order” proponents use the Federal Reserve System to purchase power and influence. The ability to create infinite amounts of Federal Reserve Notes enables them. Take away this ability and the NWO will die on the vine.

    In Liberty,
    Tom Rankin
    C4Lsheepdog
    985/438-6798

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